Rafter square



2 Sheets-Sheet l 47677 KHZ/res ATTO R N EYS Oct. 17, 1939. e. c. HINES RAFTER SQUARE Filed May 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 476/7 (if/27766 aaj /awr ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 17, 1939 2,176,798

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAFTER SQUARE Glen 0. Hines, Raymondville, Tex. Application May 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,790

2 Claims. (01. 33-75) This invention relates to rafter squares and pose of marking off the angles or bevels for the has for an object to provide a measuring instrucuts of the rafters. ment of this character which will embody con- On the face of the plate, concentric with the centric scales and a bifurcated arm swingable pivot bolt I2 is a plurality of arcuate scales I6.

.3 over the scales to enable the length of common These scales extend through an arc of 90 de- 5 rafters for buildings of different widths, to be grees on one side of the center diameter of the readily computed by those unable to use conplate and display graduations indicating cuts ventional rafter scales because of the complexity for respectively top common, top hip and valley,

of such scales. side jack, side hip and valley, and top octagon if) A further object is to provide a device of this hip rafters. character which will have only one edge to place Arcuate scales I! are displayed on the face of against the timber for marking the timber prethe plate on opposite sides of the center diameparatory to making a cut, thus promoting ease ter and display graduations indicating cuts for of reading and minimizing the danger of making bottom common, bottom hip and valley, bottom 13 a mistake. octagon, side octagon hip and side octagon jack 15 A further object is to provide a rafter square rafters. having concentric scales and a single blade mov- Disposed also on the face of the plate is a able thereover to permit the bevel cut of rafters plurality of arcuate scales l8 which display gradto be easily and quickly determined. uations indicating linear measurements of dif- With the above and other objects in view the ferences in length of jack rafters through a range 20 invention consists of certain novel details of conof 16, 18, 20 and 24 inches between centers. A struction and combinations of parts hereinafter scale 19 is marked on the blade to cooperate fully described and claimed, it being understood with the scales l8 and the blade scale graduathat various modifications may be resorted to tions indicate inch rise to one foot of run.

25 within the scope of the appended claims with- As best shown in Figure 5 the reverse side of 25 out departing from the spirit or sacrificing any the plate I0 is provided with arcuate concentric of the advantages of the invention. scales 20 which extend throughout about an are In the accompanying drawings forming part of 120 degrees. The outermost scale is marked of this specification, with graduations to indicate different widths of Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rafter square buildings consecutively from two feet to twenty- 30 constructed in accordance with the invention five feet. The scales subtended by the outer and showing the blade and concentric scale for scale display graduations denoting the length of computing the bevel cut for different rafters. respective rafters corresponding to the different Figure 2 is a plan view of the rafter square Widths of buildings, in feet. shown in Figure 1. Also displayed on the reverse face of the plate 35 Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the rafter H1 is a plurality of arcuate concentric scales 2| square showing the concentric scales and bifurextending throughout an arc of 60 degrees. The cated arm for computing the length of rafters outermost scale of this series of scales is marked for various widths of buildings. with graduations indicating inches from one inch Figure 4 is an edge elevation of the rafter to eleven. This scale permits inches to be added 40 square. to the foot widths of buildings, that is, a building Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the may be and W161? and thus the reading on line 5 5 f Figure 3' the 20 or the 21 foot widths would be inaccurate for cutting the proper length of rafter. There- WhlCh like a Roferrl,ng now to the drayvmgs fore the scales subtended by the scales 2| are characteis of reference designate similar parts r d d t s 1 t h m designates a Semi circu g a ua e 0 re pe 1vey in ica e 1nc es m m the Vanous I n t d t length to be added to the numeral indicating the lar plate' A blade 18 plYota y connec e 0 length of the rafter on any foot width of buildthe plate through the medium of a screw bolt mg, as win he presently described having Washers and nuts on the Oppo- An arm 22 is pivotally mounted on the pivot 50 .site threaded ends thereof, as best shown in Figbolt 2 and extends Over th rear face of th ure 5. The blade projects t r y across the plate I!) to aid in computing lengths of rafters for face of the plate and it is extended a considbuildings of various widths. The scale is provided erable distance beyond the straight edge 15 of in the free end with a bifurcation 23 which conthe plate to provide a straight edge for the purstitutes a sight opening for exposing the numerals of the scales 20 and 2i as the arm is swung to its limit of movement in either direction against the straight edge 15 of the plate. The fingers 24 of the arms, on each side of the bifurcation 23, display respective longitudinal scales beginning at one at the outer end of the finger and ending at fourteen at the inner end of the finger, these numerals indicating inch rise to one foot of run.

To use the arm 22, assuming that the building is 21 and 8" wide. The arm would be swung to the left of the position shown in Figure 3 until the numeral 20 appeared in the bifurcation and then knowing the inch rise per foot of run, say 8", the numeral in the bifurcation opposite the numeral 8 will be read as 12 7 A The scale is now swung in a retrograde direction until the numeral 8 denoting added inches to the width of the building appears in the bifurcation and then the numeral opposite 8 on the finger of the arm is read through the bifurcation and is found to be 4%or 13' A".

For preventing the pivot bolt l2 rotating relatively to the plate lil the pivot bolt is provided with a radially extending stop pin 23' which projects into a radially disposed slot 24 formed at the center of the pivot bolt opening in the plate. The pivot bolt will thus be held against rotation when either of the nuts M are screwed tight or unscrewed to permit manipulation of the blade II or the arm 22.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A rafter square comprising a semi-circular plate having a straight edge, radially disposed arms on opposite sides of the plate, one of the arms being extended beyond said straight edge to form a blade, a pivot bolt projecting through said plate and fixed to the plate at the center of said straight edge, said arms being loosely mounted on said bolt, and nuts on the ends of the bolt engageable with respective ones of said arms to lock the arms in adjusted positions on the plate, one side of the plate being provided with concentric scales, one of said arms being provided with a longitudinal scale, and the arm having the longitudinal scale being bifurcated at the free end to provide a sight opening through which the scales on the respective side of the plate may be read.

2. A rafter square comprising a semi-circular plate having a straight edge, radially disposed arms on opposite sides of the plate, one of the arms being extended beyond said straight edge to form a blade, a pivot bolt projecting through said plate, a radially extending stop pin on the bolt projecting into a radially disposed slot formed in the wall of the pivot bolt opening in the plate for preventingthe pivot bolt rotating relatively to the plate, said arms being loosely mounted on said bolt, and nuts on theends of the bolt engageable with respective ones of said arms to lock the arms in adjusted position on the plate, one side of the plate being provided with concentric scales, one of said arms being provided with a longitudinal scale and the arm having the longitudinal scale being bifurcated at the free end to provide a sight opening through which the scales on the respective side of the plate may be read.

GLEN C. HINES. 

